First Nations justice
Media and commentary relating to our collaborative work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to promote the rights of First Nations peoples.
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NSW Government must not delay crucial child protection reforms
In 2019, the landmark Family is Culture report highlighted significant flaws in the child protection system impacting on Aboriginal children and families. Two years on, the NSW Government has made little substantive progress on its 126 recommendations and is yet to adequately engage or empower Aboriginal communities and stakeholders to partner as key decision-makers in…
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Missed opportunities in NSW Government’s disappointing response to First Nations People in Custody Inquiry
Joint PIAC / Community Legal Centres NSW statement The NSW Government has missed a significant opportunity to take practical action to end Aboriginal deaths in custody, following its rejection of a number of positive initiatives proposed by the Select Committee Inquiry into the High Level of First Nations People in Custody and Oversight and Review…
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Child protection systems continue to fail First Nations children, most recent figures show
New statistics released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in May highlight the continuing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection systems across Australia, and demonstrate the urgent need for reform. ‘Child protection statistics have for some time now been showing us the dramatic over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres…
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PIAC joins call for a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
PIAC has joined the call for the establishment of a dedicated, independent, National Commissioner to advance the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across the country, during the Family Matters National Week of Action. ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people continue to be over-policed, over-incarcerated and over-represented in out-of-home care…
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PIAC welcomes new report on First Nations incarceration: but action is needed
On the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, PIAC has welcomed many of the recommendations of a new Report tabled in NSW Parliament today. The Joint Select Committee on the High Level of First Nations People in Custody and Oversight and Review of Deaths in Custody has handed down 39…
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Show your support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament
Supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart can have their say on the establishment of a First Nations Voice to Parliament, by making a submission to the Australian Government’s co-design process by 30 April. In January 2021 the Australian Government released the Interim Voice Report and invited the community to contribute to the design…
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Legal organisations remain concerned about the impact of secret policy on children and young people
A coalition of NSW legal and social justice organisations have reiterated serious concerns about the application of the NSW Police’s Suspect Targeting Management Plan (STMP) to children and young people. The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has today released its evaluation of whether there is an association between the use of the STMP…
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Should ten year olds be jailed?
Australia is out of step with most of the world when it comes to the age we send kids to jail – here 10 year olds can be locked up. Most countries of Europe insist children need to be aged between 12 and 16 and it is sobering to note, of the children incarcerated aged…
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#RaiseTheAge forum
‘Raising the age of criminal responsibility is not just an Aboriginal issue, it’s about the fundamental human rights of young people in this country. However, like most human rights issues in this country it affects our people the most,’ – Daniel Daylight. Thank you to everyone who attended PIAC’s zoom forum on 21 July, and…
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Family is Culture response falls short on structural change
The NSW Government’s response to the Family is Culture report contains a number of positive initiatives, but falls short of the significant reform needed to improve a child protection system that is failing Aboriginal families and children. Released late last year, the landmark Family Is Culture report made damning findings about the NSW child protection…